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Roke Telkom launches free internet usage through express Wi-Fi internet service

By
Our Reporter
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Internet in Uganda

ROKE Telkom, a Ugandan home-grown public service provider for voice and data communications services has announced an additional cost-free time for its signature Express Wi-Fi internet service.

This is following a recent announcement of the telecom’s partnership with Facebook to provide high-speed internet to millions of Ugandans in October last year.

In this new campaign, the users of the Express Wi-Fi service will enjoy an extra gratuitous 30 minutes every day for 12 days.

Michael Mukasa, the Chief Commercial Officer at ROKE Telkom said that the principal goal of launching Express Wi-Fi was to offer a more diversified set of services including; promotional offers, while charging for some, to improve our customers’ experiences and position ROKE Telkom as a frontrunner in making internet more affordable and accessible.

“Today, we announce this offer as a part of our overall strategic plan to extend the internet to Ugandans. Because users of these services are always on the go, it is best that they can access internet services anywhere and at any time,” he commented.

ROKE Telkom has been at the helm of providing affordable, reliable, and fast internet for Ugandans for the past 15 years. With over 600 Rokespots, many people including those in the remote regions of the country have had a chance to experience uninterrupted internet connectivity.

“We pledge our unwavering commitment to continue innovating as we remain at the center of this country-wide transformation in steering Uganda to world-class efficiency and productivity in the communication and technology sector,” Michelle Baine, the Brand Manager, ROKE Telkom stated.

This offer will run from the 29th of March, 2021 to the 11th of April, 2021. During this time, users will have free 30 minutes of usage everyday on all Rokespots countrywide.

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Op-ed: Safeguard the girl child from defilement

By
Guest Writer
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Brenda Asiimwe

Violated by the same people that ought to protect them, what is the fate of the Ugandan girl child? Daily Monitor on 25th March reported over 1,000 girls to have been defiled with 200 victims having been abused by their fathers.

It’s not stressed enough how children ought to be protected by their parents/caregivers but what if the child’s enemy lives under the same roof under the guise of a parent?

The United Convention on the Rights of the Child advocates for all appropriate legislative, administrative, social, and educational measures to protect children from all forms of violence including defilement and sexual abuse. Additionally, the UN Sustainable Development Goals set an agenda for global human development endeavors from 2015–2030 in which they acknowledged defilement as a fundamental obstacle to the health of the children and society as a whole.

Going by the SDG targets, we should not still be having such a high number of cases of defilement in 2021.

Today’s parents are busier than ever with work or running businesses that little time is left to fend to children’s needs or notice when a child’s behavior changes. During the COVID19 lockdown last year, parents and caregivers had unrivaled time to spend time with children.  Child Protection Specialists stressed the need for parents to be deliberate about spending time with children, to bond with them, to strengthen parent-child trust so that children feel safe to report any unbecoming behavior towards them. It was also stressed that if parents are keen and pay attention to children, they would notice cries for help, even the nonverbal cues exhibited through a change of behavior such as when a child who is normally bubbly becomes withdrawn or violent among other traits that would depict that the child is battling something within.

This is where the aspect of work, life, and family balance comes into play. When a parent concentrates and spends more time working, in the long run, children are neglected putting them at risk of being abused.

Research conducted on psychosocial outcomes among children affected by defilement from Nairobi suburbs, Kenya, established that victims develop depression. Accordingly, caretakers/parents reported that children affected showed persistent anxiety, fears, feelings of hopelessness, and depressive symptoms like anger, irritability, sleep changes, and loss of interest in daily activities.

I also recently read a story from Facebook of a woman whose sister was defiled by their father when they were young. The sister had never disclosed this information until recently in adulthood when she decided to confide in her sister adding that she was going to kill their father for what he had done to her as a child.

This is one example of the extent of the trauma, defilement victims carry with them especially if they are not supported to deal with the turmoil of emotions earlier on through proven methods like counseling and psychotherapy.

Another study online indicates that children rarely disclose sexual abuse immediately after the event. In case of lack of visible harm on the child, caregivers/parents who are not highly observant to subtle changes exhibited by children, the defilement may go undetected.

Unfortunately, we also live in a society where children are easily ignored or brushed off to be making up stories when they report cases of defilement. This is in addition to people being more mindful of protecting their family reputations more than addressing the bigger challenge at hand which ought to be ensuring the child’s safety going forward and ensuring that they get the necessary support. It’s also difficult for a child to confide in their parent/caregiver when the relationship between them is one of fear and intimidation. Child protection specialists stress the need for parents/caregivers to bond with their children to create an atmosphere where a child can confide in them.

We need to adopt a culture of listening to children and believing them when they report situations that make them uncomfortable. A society where perpetrators of sexual violence against children go unpunished is no safe place for children and especially the girl child to achieve their full potential.

Securing our future is more than having loads of money in the bank, it is in creating an environment where children can thrive, right from their homes to the outside world beyond their homes. While the government has a mandate towards the safeguarding of children, the primary role of protecting children lies with parents/caregivers. If parents are not checking in with their children to see how they are doing, that’s how abuse such as defilement goes undetected and unreported with offenders left to continue abusing more children.

Brenda Asiimwe,

Communications Officer, ChildFund International

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Absa Bank Uganda appoints two directors to facilitate bank activities

By
Our Reporter
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Albert Byaruhanga as Business Banking Director

Absa Bank Uganda has appointed Albert Byaruhanga as Business Banking Director and Helen Basuuta Nangonzi as the Marketing and Customer Experience Director.

Previously, Albert served as Head of Commercial Banking unit and Relationship Manager in the Corporate Department at Absa Bank Uganda and Head of Business Banking for two years.

He is a seasoned banker with 18 years’ experience working with various financial institutions including United Bank of Africa, Standard Chartered Bank and now Absa Bank Uganda.

He holds a Bachelor‘s Degree in Commerce from Makerere University Business School, a Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Management from UMI and is currently pursuing his MBA from Herriot-Watt University, Edinburgh Business School.

Helen Basuuta Nangonzi as the Marketing and Customer Experience Director.

In tandem, the bank appointed Helen Basuuta Nangonzi to the position of Marketing and Customer Experience Director.

Prior to joining Absa, Helen was the Head – Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing for East Africa at Standard Chartered Bank. She also served as Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing for Standard Chartered Uganda.

Helen has a wealth of experience gained over a 14-year career in Product Development, Brand Management, Corporate Relations, Marketing, Client Experience, Administration, Sustainability, and Human Resource Management.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Sciences – First Class (Hons) and an Executive MBA attained from ESAMI (Eastern and Southern Africa Management Institute).

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Tourism ministry, UWA, UTB resolve to boost security and fight illegal poaching in National Parks

By
Our Reporter
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Lions

The Tourism Ministry, UWA, UTB, security agencies and local communities in Kanungu have resolved to strengthen their working relationship to protect lions and other animals in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

This followed a fact-finding meeting, convened at Enjojo Lodge, to establish the circumstances, surrounding the gruesome killing of six tree-climbing lions, on the 19th of March 2021.

Four men suspected to have been involved in the killings are currently in police custody in Kampala. They were arrested by a joint security operation of UWA, Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), and the Uganda Police, helped by the local community who identified the suspects.

The meeting resolved to reinforce the working relationship between the UWA rangers, UPDF, Police, and the local councils to make sure the security of the national park is stronger. They also committed to create awareness through sensitization within the communities to ensure that they appreciate the need to protect the wild animals as well as understand how to address their conflicts to UWA.

The Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities Col. Rtd. Butime said that Wildlife poaching is a criminal offence that remains punishable by the courts of law.

He assured domestic and foreign tourists that despite the loss of the six lions, Uganda still had plenty of lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park and other national parks.

“Let this not discourage you from exploring our national parks that are also full of other animals aside from the lions like over 5000 elephants, 2000 buffalos, 800 giraffes, birds, and many more,” he said.

Mr. Sam Mwandha, the executive director of Uganda wildLife authority (UWA) applauded the security agencies and local community members who worked with the UWA rangers to have the suspects arrested.

He lauded all the stakeholders for coming together to work out an even stronger mechanism to ensure the safety of both the animals and that of the livelihoods of the communities.

“Arresting the suspects involved in the killing of the lions required collaboration between ourselves, the UPDF, the police, the local council leaders and that, we have agreed that we will strengthen. We will also work together to create awareness among the communities to ensure that they appreciate the need for not getting into the park, not killing the wildlife, and then raising their issues with us so that we can be able to address them as Uganda Wildlife Authority,” he said.

He said, there was a need to ensure that the revenue that UWA shares with the communities is appropriately used and that the communities benefit from the money.

Mr. Ssekandi the Kanungu District RDC said it had been established through confessions that the killers, who are residents in communities neighbouring the park, had been offered between Shs 40,000 to Shs 80,000 for each lion’s head by the buyers.

“The caught culprits did confirm killing the six Lions and explained that they first poisoned them before mutilating them into pieces. Body parts were discovered in the suspects’ houses while other body parts were found hidden within the park,” he said

 “Investigations are still ongoing, and the Kanungu District leaders are optimistic that all people involved in this act will be caught,” he said adding, that by the time the suspects were arrested, they had not yet received their payment from the yet-to-be-identified buyers.

The RDC also said that although unrelated to the killing of lions, human-wildlife conflict is rife, characterized by animals destroying their crops as well as preying on their domestic animals like goats.

Lilly Ajarova, the UTB CEO, reiterated the need by communities to conserve and protect the animals and other species that contribute to the Tourism Sector.

“As an agency philosophically driven by tourism sustainability, we are in a joint effort with the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities, Tourism Agencies, Local Leaders as well as the Tourism Police in getting to the bottom of the matter at hand and seek justice for the dead lions and curb the criminals of the offence who will be sentenced accordingly,” she said.

She said the death of the lions at this particular time when the tourism sector was reeling from the effects of Covid-19 was regrettable.

“The UNWTO declared 2020 as the worst year in tourism history, with arrivals declining by 1 billion visitors translating into a 74% decline. With 2021 showing optimism, we need to preserve and conserve our tourist attractions to be able to regain what we lost in 2020 and get the sector back to its glory days,” she told the meeting.

“UTB has been doing different Destination Uganda campaigns both domestic and foreign to reboot tourism in the country with The Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo being ongoing and is set to happen from the 27th to the 29th of April. She urged people to endeavour to attend as it will connect business to business as well as business to consumers,” she added.

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Former UTODA Chairman Hajji Musa Katongole dead

By
Geoffery Serugo
-
Katongole

The former chairman of Uganda Taxi Operators and Drivers Association (UTODA), Hajji Musa Katongole has passed on. His death was confirmed by the Kawempe North MP Latif Ssebagala Sengendo.

Katongole was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at TMR International Hospital in Naalya, a Kampala suburb after he returned from Thailand.

For over 25 years, UTODA was managing tax parks and taxi business in Kampala till 2011 when the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) under the leadership of Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago declined to renew his contract.

Hajji Katongole was one of the shareholders in Awakula Ennume transport services operating a fleet of buses.  He is expected to be laid to rest at his father’s home in Kasangati.

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Archbishop Kazimba, Wife get #Covid-19 jab

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Archbishop Kazimba getting his #Covid-19 jab

The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Rt Rev Dr. Steven Kazimba Mugalu, together with a group of over 100 bishops and clergies received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine at the provincial Secretariat in Namirembe.

Currently, there are 126,697,603 confirmed cases of Covid-19, including 2,776,175 deaths, reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Uganda has 40767 confirmed cases of Covid-19 including 335 deaths.

As of 25th March 2021, WHO confirmed that a total of 462,824,374 vaccine doses had been administered worldwide. For Uganda, the ministry of health has not confirmed the number who have received Covid-19 jab.

Speaking at Namirembe cathedral, the Archbishop said; “Today I received the Covid-19 vaccine. I took time to study the matter and consulted with leading physicians in our hospitals, which were very helpful to me. I thank Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng and her team at the Ministry of Health for the commendable job in fighting against #Covid19.I call upon all Christians to use this opportunity and be vaccinated.”

“I was persuaded that the vaccine is safe and the benefits of protecting me from a serious case of Covid-19 are much better than the small possibility of side effects.”

He encouraged each person, particularly those considered vulnerable, to also study the matter and make an informed decision for themselves.

The vaccination campaign target in Uganda stands at 21,936,011 people equivalent to 49.6 percent of the population of Uganda compared with the target population earlier communicated (60 percent and 27,000,000 people) in line with WHO and Africa CDC global guidance.

Health workers from both public and private health facilities were the first group to receive the vaccine.

The second group will be the teachers. All teachers will be required to access vaccines from the nearest public health facility starting from HC III up to a National Referral Hospital.

The third category will be all persons above 50 years of age. The next category eligible for vaccination are the 18 to 50-year olds who have the following underlying health conditions: hypertension, Diabetes, cancer, organ diseases such as Liver, Kidney or heart disease. Each category will be alerted on the days on which to report for vaccination

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Mohan Kiwanuka writes to his children saying they have dishonoured him

By
Isaiah Mwebaze
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Mr. Jordan Sebuliba who has taken on his father Mohan Kiwanuka in a property row.

It has emerged that  before court finally ordered for the eviction of his children Jordan Ssebuliba Kiwanuka and siblings from  company property, their father Mohan Kiwanuka had painfully drafted an emotional letter to children.

Mr Kiwanuka who doesn’t need introduction anymore in his letter says his children had dishonoured him in their venture to grab property from him and eventual declaration that he was mentally unstable.

“I gave you the best education, and always preached to you good behaviour like respect, hard work, building for the future, modesty and avoiding wasteful living. My late mother did the same and taught you religious values too. However, you dishonoured me so much and breached my trust when under your company Lowerhill Management Limited, you joined Sebuliba in forging tenancy agreements for yourselves, and then proceeded to the court and the media harassing me, insulting and defaming me, and claiming ownership of properties you very well know belong to companies which i founded” Mr Kiwanuka wrote.

Two years down the road, court has finally found Jordan Sebuliba Kiwanuka, the errant ‘son’ to city tycoon Mohan Kiwanuka, guilty and criminally liable of a couple of offences. And the sane court, issued orders to have them thrown out of two properties he’s been occupying illegally for over ten years.

For the last 18 months, Mr. Kiwanuka has been battling for his properties which,Sebuliba  was  occupying without remitting payments to the companies that own them.

Mr. Sebuliba the estranged son of Kiwanuka failed to convince four different courts and judges to his side hence miserably losing all the cases some of which he himself had filed in pursuit to throw his father out of his hard earned wealth. Court documents available indicate that Sebuliba committed fraud vide forgery as well as abuse of office among a string of charges, in order to gift himself the company properties.

He and his other siblings went to court claiming that Kiwanuka had gifted them the ‘matrimonial’ properties but had become too enfeebled to remember, judging that the old man was allegedly suffering from dementia and other illnesses. Sebuliba further prayed to court to find his father of unsound mind and instead he Sebuliba be given management of all the family properties.

Court bailiff throwing out Sebuliba from Mr. Kiwanuka’s property in Kololo.

 

Below is Mr Mohan Kiwanuka letter in full

 

Mr. Riad Batabda Kiwanuka

Ms Jordana Kiwanuka Hass

Mr. Adnan Dean Kiwanuka

I have received many people sent by you requesting that I allow you to meet me and discuss family matters. Unfortunately, this has not been possible because of your decision to support and join Jordan sebuliba, who has defied the values you all grew up learning from me and other elders in the family and instead you and him have become outlaws.

I gave you the best education, and always preached to you good behaviour like respect, hard work, building for the future, modesty and avoiding wasteful living. My late mother did the same and taught you religious values too.

However, you dishonoured me so much and breached my trust when under your company Lowerhill Management Limited, you joined Sebuliba in forging tenancy agreements for yourselves, and then proceeded to the court and the media harassing me, insulting and defaming me, and claiming ownership of properties you very well know belong to companies which i founded.

I and Visa Investment Limited have had to defend your baseless claims at a huge cost through four suits in the High Court, and now Court of Appeal.

When you became antagonist and ignored all advice from many family members and friends to apologise and undo your wrong, I found it necessary to stop you from coming to my home and office because you were now court antagonists and not behaving like family members.

I have no problem with meeting you provided you first withdraw all the court cases against me and the companies, and offer a sincere apology to me and other family members you have insulted  and also vacate and hand back the company properties . I would then be willing to sit down with and talk to you anytime. I hope you don’t wait until it is too late.

This is the position I have told the various people you have sent to broker a meeting between me and you and I still stand by the same position. As I have always told you, i will never reward any of you or yours.

 

Mohan Musisi Kiwanuka

cc My sisters Hajat Yudaya Nantege and Bert  Nsereko Kawooya

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Over 200 inmates to sit PLE

By
Our Reporter
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UNEB Executive Secretary Dan Odong

The Uganda Prisons services have revealed that 234 inmates will write this year’s Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) kicking off tomorrow. The revelation was made by the spokesperson of the Uganda prison services Frank Baine.

A total of 749,811 candidates are expected to sit for this year’s PLE from 14,300 examination Centres. This is an increase of 54,007(7.8 %) from 2019. 53% (395,855) of the total candidature are females while 47% (353,957) are males. 68.4% (513,091) are funded under the Universal Primary Education (UPE) Program, while 31.6 % (236,720) are non-UPE candidates.

Speaking earlier today, Mr Baine said 58 of these candidates are inmates from Upper Prison School Luzira, the rest are from other detention centers in the country.

He said the inmates are well prepared for the examinations and ready to continue with their studies when they pass.

The Executive Secretary of Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) Daniel Odong said the exams will be held under the theme; ‘Integrity and security in the management of examinations; the health and safety of learners is a joint responsibility’.

He appealed to everyone involved in the conduct of examinations to act with high levels of integrity to ensure malpractice is controlled and the examination is secure.

“We appeal to all District Inspectors of Schools to ensure that sufficient numbers of invigilators are deployed per sitting centre to ensure that the candidates are properly supervised and the SOPs are followed in each examination room,” he said.

He assured candidates that they have what it takes for to pass this examination. “The questions are drawn from what you have studied over the last seven years. We encourage you not to be misled by anyone claiming to have access to the PLE questions. This may lead to cancellation of your results,” he said.

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FUFA accuses Malawi FA of tampering with Taddeo Lwanga’s #Covid-19 results

By
Our Reporter
-
Taddeo Lwanga

FUFA has accused the Malawi Football Association for tampering with Covid-19 results of midfielder Taddeo Lwanga ahead of the decisive Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture.

Uganda needs just a point to ensure they reach a third successive AFCON tournament after doing so in 2017 and 2019 while Malawi must win to return to the finals for a first time since 2010.

According to reports from Malawi, defensive midfielder Taddeo Lwanga, who was one of the best Cranes players against Burkina Faso, tested positive for Covid-19 and thus not eligible to play against Malawi, results that FUFA has disputed.

FUFA says the player tested negative per the results certificate.

“FUFA has written and requested CAF to consider the results from the SADC Accredited Laboratory which is all under the same Management as Queens Central Hospital. Two tests show different results. The boys have remain strong depsite the issue at hand,” FUFA said.

Various reports also indicate goalkeeper Dennis Onyango, midfielder Ibrahim Orit and forward Farouk Miya have had their results delayed in an effort to be tampered with.

According to FUFA, all Uganda Cranes players tested negative for Covid-19 and are eligible to play.

The Covid-19 pandemic has been used as tool by most teams especially in Africa to fulfill their targets by weakening their opponents.

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Sections of CEC front Oboth-Oboth for office of Speaker of Parliament

By
Our Reporter
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Markson Jacob Oboth, the Chairperson of the Legal and Parliamentary Committee

A section of the Central Executive Committee of the ruling party is mooting an idea of fronting West Budama County South Member of Parliament, Marksons Jacob Oboth for the position of speaker of parliament.

Marksons Jacob Oboth commonly known as Jacob Oboth-Oboth is the chairperson of the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee

Oboth-Oboth was instrumental in among others, the 2018 Age limit bill which saw the expunging of both the lower and upper presidential age limit of 75 years and 35 years and hence  giving a leeway for president Yoweri Museveni to contest in the 2021 presidential elections.

The election of a Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Parliament is the first activity of the assembly after the administration of oaths after being gazetted by the Electoral Commission as winners of January 14, 2021 parliamentary elections.

According to Article 82 of the 1995 Constitution, the office of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Parliament shall be elected by Members of Parliament from among themselves.

According to a source at parliament, there is a new proposal being crafted within the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the National Resistance Movement (NRM).

According to the proposal, CEC is concerned why the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga and her deputy Jacob Oulanyah are so interested in the speakership so much and worried about the divisive politics in the country.

According to the proposal, the source said that CEC wants Oboth-Oboth to leave the position of Deputy Speaker which he is  vying for but go for the post of speaker.

“Oulanyah could be named the Attorney General in the next government and Kadaga Vice President. To resolve standing conflict and divisive politics within the NRM,” the source said.

Kadaga is every other day hitting at Oulanyah labeling him among others a coward who declined to preside over the age limit debate. Oulanyah has since declined to relent in line to achieve his political goals.

Earlier this month, Kiboga district woman MP who doubles as Chief Whip, Ruth Nankabirwa was dragged into Kadaga-Oulanyah row on the floor of parliament after some members claimed that she was campaigning for Oulanyah.

Nankabirwa denied the claims saying she was just reminding MPs of the 2016 CEC resolution to the effect that Kadaga was to serve only ten years and pass on the baton to Oulanyah.

The speakership race has three candidates; Kadaga, Oulanyah and Kira Municipality MP Ssemujju Nganda.

The MPs vying for the position of Deputy Speaker are; Bukedea Woman MP Anita Among, Kampala Central MP Muhammad Nsereko, Ruhinda North MP Thomas Tayebwa, Theodore Ssekikubo, the Lwemiyaga County MP , State Minister for Finance David Bahati and Gomba West MP Robina Gureme Rwakoojo.

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